Actually, it’s around the world in three days.  These three chapters survey politics in more developed, less developed and transitioning states.  Danziger does not introduce new concepts but applies what he has covered earlier in the book to describe the political economies of states in these three classes, focusing on the challenges states face in achieving their security, stability, and prosperity goals (recall pp. 294-95).

Point to ponder 

• If you wonder what a weak dollar, tummy-tuck jeans, waste paper, and inflation have to do with each other, Paul Solman explains in a Newshour piece which you can read or hear or better watch through live-streaming; then, there is an oil connection in a related interview with a Wall Street Journal reporter; as we discovered earlier, many of these economic trends are a function in part of political decisions made here and elsewhere,  and the consequences of these economic trends frequently generate political conflict and political demands (here and elsewhere).

Question to consider

• The members of BRIC met for their first full summit in June 2009. What the heck is BRIC? Are there any odd aspects to this group? What are the implications of BRIC for the US? How does the emergence of BRIC conform to issues Danziger discusses in Chaps. 13-15?
• Ever heard of the Great Firewall of China? There is a recent controversy over something called Green Dam-Youth Escort. What's it all about? Is this only of concern to China?

Assignment: Sometimes life has a nice way of conspiring to contribute to our education. Such is the case of what has been happening in Europe over the last several months--think Euro zone, Greece, Italy, and such. For your last exercise, which will take the form of an on-line discussion, we will discuss a variety of topics related to these European problems which illustrate a good number of issues we have covered this semester. Your job, in posts which are contributed regularly over the next several weeks, is to point to aspects of the European crises that illustrate what you have learned. I will periodically post specific questions and comments that are intended to direct your attention one way or another. Remember, if you want to score well on an on-line exercise, you need to make multiple relevant comments, starting early (not just before the end), supporting your comments with specific evidence and specifying your sources of information.Discussion begins immediately and ends at noon on 5 December. So, looking at what has been happening recently in Europe, what justifies my claim that "I told you so?" (which is the name of the DB forum I've opened for your participation).